President Donald Trump ordered the U.S. Navy to shoot and destroy any vessel found laying mines in the Strait of Hormuz. The order, posted on his Truth Social platform, authorizes "no hesitation" in carrying out the action. The Pentagon estimates mine-clearing operations could take up to six months. The strait handles roughly 20 percent of the world's oil supply. This represents a significant escalation, authorizing lethal force against vessels engaged in threatening behavior in international waters.
Gannon Ken Van Dyke, a U.S. Army special forces soldier, has been charged with betting more than $33,000 on Polymarket using classified information, allegedly earning over $400,000 from wagers on Maduro's removal placed hours after Trump's announcement. He participated in the operation that captured Maduro in January. Charges include unauthorized use of classified information, theft of nonpublic information, commodities fraud, wire fraud, and illegal monetary transactions. Polymarket detected the unusual betting patterns, triggering a federal investigation that led to his arrest.
Warner Bros. Discovery shareholders are voting Thursday on a $110 billion merger with Paramount Skydance that would combine CBS News and CNN under David Ellison, son of Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison. The deal includes a $7 billion breakup fee for regulatory blockage plus $2.8 billion owed to Netflix for terminating a separate agreement. Britain's Competition and Markets Authority and Democratic Senator Cory Booker are investigating foreign investment from sovereign wealth funds in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE. Proxy advisory firm ISS recommended approval but criticized an $800 million golden parachute for WBD CEO David Zaslav.
The United States has requested Venezuela extradite Ali Zaki Hage Jalil, a suspect linked to Hezbollah and the 1994 bombing of Alas Chiricanas Flight 901. The attack killed 21 people, including 12 Jewish passengers. It was one of the deadliest strikes against a Jewish community in Latin America. The suspect is detained on Margarita Island, where intelligence reports have documented Hezbollah-linked networks operating as a logistical hub. The request was delivered to Venezuelan acting President Delcy Rodríguez, challenging years of impunity for suspects tied to Iranian-backed terrorism in the region.
EU officials expect Hungary to lift its opposition to a €90 billion loan for Ukraine on Thursday, clearing the way for billions in financial support as oil sanctions on Budapest take effect. Russian state television branded Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni "fascist scum," prompting condemnation from Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani. EU member states rejected a push by Spain, Slovenia, and Ireland to suspend the bloc's association agreement with Israel, falling short of the unanimity required. Lawmakers across the political spectrum are urging the European Parliament to abandon monthly sessions in Strasbourg amid soaring energy costs.
The US military has intercepted at least three Iranian-flagged oil tankers in Asian waters and redirected them away from positions near India, Malaysia, and Sri Lanka. The vessels include the Dorena, carrying roughly 2 million barrels of crude and now under escort by a US Navy destroyer off India's southern coast. The closure of the Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly one-fifth of the world's oil and gas flows, has disrupted global energy supply chains. Iranian negotiators declined to attend peace talks in Islamabad, which had been delayed after Tehran said the discussions were a "waste of time."
The ICC's three-judge panel unanimously approved crimes against humanity charges against former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, finding substantial grounds he played a central role in killings of at least 76 people. The court determined evidence demonstrates a common plan to eliminate alleged criminals through homicide during his 2016-2022 presidency. The ICC found jurisdiction because crimes occurred while the Philippines was still a member. Judges rejected defence fitness claims. More than 500 victims have been authorized to participate in proceedings that could begin within a year.
The United States will host a second meeting between Lebanese and Israeli envoys in Washington on Thursday as Beirut seeks to extend a ceasefire expiring Sunday. Secretary of State Marco Rubio will attend talks with Lebanese Ambassador Nada Moawad and Israeli Ambassador Yechiel Leiter. Israeli strikes killed at least five people on Wednesday, including journalist Amal Khalil, marking the deadliest day since the April 16 ceasefire. Nearly 2,500 people have been killed in Lebanon since Israel went on the offensive in response to Hezbollah's March 2 attack.
Microsoft announced Thursday it will offer voluntary buyout program to a small percentage of its U.S. workforce, the first such program in the company's 51-year history. Eligible employees at the senior director level and below whose combined age and years of service total 70 or more will receive details on May 7. The company had 228,000 employees as of June 2025 and appears positioned to reduce costs ahead of its new financial year in July. Microsoft is also simplifying its stock award system and reducing manager pay options from nine levels to five.
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche signed an order reclassifying state-licensed medical marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III under the Controlled Substances Act, fulfilling a December executive order by President Trump. The change removes marijuana from the same category as heroin and MDMA, recognizing medical cannabis as having moderate to low dependence potential. The reclassification does not legalize recreational marijuana but allows state-licensed producers to register with the DEA and could significantly reduce the industry's tax burden.
Commonwealth Bank announced 119 job cuts Thursday, with about a third affecting Bankwest after its transition to an online-only model in 2024. The announcement comes two months after Commonwealth Bank eliminated 300 positions in February when it launched a program preparing workers for AI-driven changes. Electrolux simultaneously announced 3,000 job cuts over two years and raised 9 billion kroner ($970 million) from shareholders while partnering with China's Midea for North American manufacturing. The Finance Sector Union said 72 percent of CBA workers expressed concern about job security due to AI and overseas outsourcing.
President Donald Trump said Thursday he would not use a nuclear weapon in the war against Iran, claiming the United States has already "decimated" the country through conventional means. He said Iran's navy, air force, and anti-aircraft systems have been largely destroyed. Trump also said the U.S. could eliminate any Iranian weapons buildup in approximately one day. On negotiations, the president said he prefers an "everlasting" arrangement and warned reporters not to rush him.
Pope Leo XIV celebrated Mass in Mongomo, Equatorial Guinea, with an estimated 100,000 attending. During his homily, he urged citizens to build a just society with safeguards for human dignity, directly addressing the nation's human rights abuses and oil wealth inequality. President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, who has ruled since 1979, attended alongside his son and convicted embezzler, Vice President Teodoro "Teddy" Nguema Obiang. After Mass, Leo visited a prison in Bata, continuing Pope Francis's tradition of such visits.
Reza Pahlavi, the 65-year-old exiled son of Iran's former Shah, visited Berlin and urged European governments to abandon diplomatic engagement with Tehran. He called Iran's leadership a "wounded beast" and claimed 19 political prisoners had been executed in the past two weeks. He was splattered with red liquid by a demonstrator as he left a press conference. German officials declined to meet with him, with Chancellor Merz's spokesperson saying "the Iranian regime is currently the point of contact." His visit coincided with European leaders gathering in Cyprus for a crisis summit on the US-Israeli war with Iran.
Assembly elections in Tamil Nadu concluded smoothly on Thursday, April 23, 2026, with polling ending at 6 p.m. across multiple districts. In Erode district, eight constituencies deployed 11,420 polling personnel, 67 micro-observers, and nearly 4,000 police and Central Armed Police Forces. Voting proceeded largely peacefully with steady turnout, though brief delays and isolated Electronic Voting Machine issues were reported. Election materials were transported to two counting centers in Erode district. In Tiruchi district, nine constituencies recorded large voter turnout despite intense summer heat.
President Trump announced the Israel-Lebanon ceasefire has been extended three weeks following White House talks between Israeli and Lebanese delegations. Trump ordered the US Navy to "shoot and kill" any Iranian vessels deploying mines in the Strait of Hormuz, a passage carrying roughly 20 percent of the world's oil. The Pentagon warned clearing all mines could take six months as oil prices rose above $106 per barrel. Lebanese journalist Amal Khalil was killed Wednesday in an Israeli airstrike in southern Lebanon despite the declared ceasefire.